[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] One More COVID-19 Case Added in Military... Total 21 Cases

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) within the military has increased by one. As of 9:30 a.m. on the 27th, the total number of confirmed cases in the military stands at 21.

On the same day, the Ministry of National Defense stated, "There are a total of 21 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the military: 14 in the Army, 2 in the Navy (including 1 Marine), and 5 in the Air Force, with one additional civilian Army worker in the Changwon area."

The first confirmed case in the military was reported on the 20th of this month. A corporal who had taken leave from the Jeju Navy base to Daegu was the first to test positive within the military.

At an Army unit in Pocheon, an Army corporal was the first to be confirmed positive, followed by four more soldiers testing positive consecutively. Among the four confirmed cases at the Pocheon Army unit, three were in close contact with the initially confirmed corporal, while one is presumed to have been infected externally.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the military authorities have quarantined approximately 9,570 individuals as of the 26th. The military has been applying enhanced preventive quarantine measures since the 10th of this month for soldiers and civilian workers who have visited Daegu, Yeongcheon City in North Gyeongsang Province, or Cheongdo County, either themselves or through cohabiting family members.

The military is currently supporting the whole-of-government response to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with about 1,130 personnel. Among them, around 300 are military medical personnel and about 800 are general personnel.

Considering the domestic COVID-19 situation, military authorities are discussing with the U.S. military the possibility of scaling down the upcoming ROK-U.S. joint military exercises scheduled for early next month. The ROK-U.S. military authorities are expected to make and announce a decision regarding the joint exercises as early as the 27th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.